Chapter Text
Izuku was chewed out the minute he made it back to the library, which was exactly what he expected.
“There you are!” Iida would exclaim, holding a stack of books. Everyone else was moving around, cleaning up. And there was Izuku, cradling a stolen book in his jacket and feeling exceptionally guilty.
Iida approached the nervous Izuku. And with his free hand, he reached out and grasped a shoulder. “Where’d you run off too? Everyone was worried about you.”
“Everyone was…?” He was stunned speechless. Worried?
He destroyed a shelf of books, ran off with one of them, and everyone was worried?
The boy from earlier, Ojiro, stepped up beside Iida with an awkward smile — he must’ve overheard them. “Uh yeah, we kinda thought you were freaking out or something. Iida was going to run after you but I told him to give you some space.”
“O-Oh!” Izuku smiled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry! I guess I was kind of freaking out. But- but I’m okay, now.”
Iida’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly, but he didn’t say anything else. Izuku wasn’t sure if he should let himself feel relieved yet or not.
“Well… okay,” Ojiro said gently, shifting a little awkwardly. Izuku wouldn’t have noticed if he wasn’t shimmering with nervousness. “Do you need someone to walk you to the nurses office?”
“I’m not hurt,” Izuku quietly reassured, but the other boy didn’t seem convinced. Why? Was there something on his face?
Or did they see him freak out? What exactly did they witness? It was stressing him out, unsure of how to assure these people without sounding crazy.
“Sorry for worrying you! I can see ghosts and some lady was terrorizing the library! Also, they’re real!”
Yeah… right.
“The bell’s rang a few minutes ago,” Iida observed, checking his watch. “We should probably get to our classes.”
Ojiro smiled, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder, towards the librarian. “I’ll get her to write us some slips. I think cleaning up is a fair excuse. What do you think?”
Izuku had been spacing out, so he jumped when he realised Ojiro was speaking to him. “Me? Oh uhm- yeah! Yeah, of course.”
His face reddened. That was one indirect way of asking him to help out.
—————
And so the three of them, with the help of random students here and there, cleaned up the library swiftly. Iida and Ojiro were making casual conversation, but Izuku had been quiet, too focused on the spirit. He realised he never got her name — but judging on how far gone she’d been, he wasn’t even sure if she’d give a lucid one.
The rest of the day was spent with Izuku spacing out. He’d pace in the hallways, bouncing his legs in the classrooms; he was ready for the day to be over so he could free the apparition. He hasn’t seen her appear again, so he could safely assume she was just waiting for the right moment. Which was what he was hoping for. He could hardly handle talking to Oboro through the day without slipping up and making himself look insane. What on earth has his life come to?
It was strange, though. He hasn’t seen Oboro, either. Oboro had disappeared around the same time yesterday, too, but he was at least here by the time Izuku made it out in the school yard.
The sun was dipping below the horizon by the time he made the walk. He had shoved the book in his bag, hid his hands in his pockets, and slipped out the school as everyone else dispersed. He still hadn’t seen Oboro once — which he didn’t mind either, because the ghost was distracting. He needed to focus on this.
He’d apologise to Oboro later.
He didn’t head home. Instead, he turned around the corner, near the abandoned place he’d found Oboro in. Behind it was a lake. He had no idea where it ran, or how big it was, but it looked large enough to have the book dissolve.
He made it to the edge, which was made up of large rocks. The lake’s surface stretched beyond the distance, with no apparent end. The orange rays sparkled against the blue. There was a slight, refreshing breeze, that made Izuku shiver.
He threw his bag down and unzipped it. He pulled out the book. His stomach twisted into knots as he looked down at the colourful cover, cradling it tightly in his hands.
The Institute.
Well, Stephen King never failed with his originals.
Izuku remembered reading this once before. Way back then, with his mom. Inko had always been a fan of horror, even when it scared the hell out of her. Izuku tried to take after her, but he couldn't handle it at all. It always made him so nauseous.
He never did finish the book. He just had a loose idea of what it was about.
He held it close, looking down at the water. It ran deep, waves lapping over each other. He frowned, chewing his bottom lip.
It still didn’t feel right. Wasn’t this technically destroying school property?
It’s for a good cause, he told himself. This was for the trapped apparition. Everything would be okay.
He inhaled, and held his breath. Then he threw the book into the water. He closed his eyes as he heard the splash, and felt his heart sink with it.
He shifted against the rocks, watching it slowly sink. He turned his head — and jumped when he noticed her sitting next to him. The very apparition he was freeing.
“Thank you,” the spirit whispered. She was smiling.
That made Izuku’s heart leap strangely. It was pretty incredible how a simple smile can change someone’s whole features.
She was staring down at the water. And without thinking, Izuku asked, “What’s your name?”
“Iris,” she whispered, looking away.
“Iris,” Izuku repeated. “That’s a pretty name. That’s a type of flower, did you know?”
Iris didn’t reply, just staring ahead. Then after a few moments, she tilted her head towards him. There was a certain gleam in her eyes that made his heart swell.
“Thank you,” she just said, closing her eyes. And then she began to fade.
The book was probably at the bottom by now.
Izuku watched as the girl slowly disappeared, the slight chill in the air gone. In her place was nothing. It made him feel an odd sense of dread.
He grabbed his bag and slowly slipped it back on over his shoulders. He stared out at the water.
Hopefully, Iris wouldn’t be down there for too long. Though when they talked about it, it almost seemed like that’s what she wanted. Izuku didn’t understand apparitions in the slightest — but he’d give them what they wanted. They were dead, after all. He’d do anything to ease their afterlife.
“Rest well, Iris,” he murmured to no one in particular. He hugged the strap of his bag, just sitting there for a moment longer. Then, pushing away that ache, he spun on his heel and made his way back home.
The ache didn’t go away, even as he climbed in bed. He didn’t eat anything his foster parents offered. He didn’t have the energy to pick up his journal. He was still thinking about Iris. How haunting she’d looked at the library, compared to the obvious peace when she was freed.
His eyes welled with tears. Why couldn’t he ever feel peace like that? Why was he so scared all the time?
Maybe he was tired of being constantly stuck in his head. He couldn’t keep friends, because his emotions always got so weird. The moment people seemed like they were pulling away from him, he forcefully pushed them away. They couldn’t hurt him if he hurt them first, right?
Why was he thinking about this?
Maybe he wanted someone to free him, like he had freed Iris. Instead, he would always be stuck in his head. Because nothing about Izuku was normal.
He was sleeping in the basement of a house full of strangers. He was suddenly seeing the dead. Nothing about this was normal.
He wiped his eyes, pulling out his phone. He grabbed his wired headphones from his nightstand and plugged them in. They were cheap, and the right side was quieter than the left, but at least they worked.
He clicked through apps until he got to his favourite podcast. He played it and closed his eyes.
—
“Welcome, welcome, to tonight’s episode of Put Your Hands Up! Radio. I’m your host, Present Mic! And before we dive into this week’s popular tracks, I’d like to go over the recent missing person’s case regarding…”
—————
He didn’t feel refreshed at all the next morning.
He groaned, rubbing his eyes as he forced himself to sit up. He felt really exhausted — more than usual, and he didn’t understand why. But he had to shake that off. It was Friday, which meant tomorrow was the weekend. Which also meant he had no reason to complain, right?
He’d go to school, get this day over with, and then he could wallow at home for as long as he wanted.
Right?
Wrong.
“Hey! I’m over here! Stupid bus driver, are you blind!?”
Izuku would recognise that voice anywhere.
As he made it up to the bus stop, the vehicle was already taking off. And much to his dismay, the angry blonde also happened to be here. And he looked rightfully pissed, chasing down the bus, and giving up almost immediately when the driver didn’t stop.
Yeah, the driver didn’t stop for Izuku, either. He wondered if that was on purpose.
He walked along, his legs feeling like jelly. He clutched the straps of his bag and looked down. This was fine. He’d sneak past Katsuki and make it to school on his own.
He held his breath. Please don’t notice me, please don’t-
“You.”
Izuku froze when Katsuki growled at him. He turned his head. The blonde was still fuming, but he was looking at Izuku strangely. As if he hardly recognised him.
Izuku supposed that was fair. He grew a lot, and so did the blonde. But Katsuki never did get rid of that terrible spiky hair.
“Me?” Izuku croaked, his gaze darting between Katsuki’s.
“This is your fault!”
“How!?”
“I don’t know!” Katsuki threw his hands up, and it reminded Izuku of a rabid chihuahua. “The driver must’ve seen your stupid hair and- ran off!”
That was so absurd, Izuku almost wanted to laugh. It was obvious Katsuki was just frustrated and needed an outlet.
This part had always hurt, though. Why was Izuku always the outlet?
There was silence. Then the blonde shifted, making Izuku stiffen.
“What the hell are you doing here, anyway?” Katsuki asked, and there was a weight to his words.
“Uhm,” Izuku mumbled, looking away again. “Walking… to... school?”
“No, you smartass!” Katsuki stepped forward, and Izuku instinctively moved back. “What the hell are you doing in my town? In my school!?”
Izuku didn’t answer right away. How could he? He didn’t know! He was moved here after the disaster that was his last foster home. There was no way of him knowing Katsuki lived here.
“This- this wasn’t on purpose!” He yelped to defend himself.
“Don’t start with me, you little punk. I’d been doing fine. My grades are good. My attendance is golden. I’m- I have friends. I don’t need this in my life! You-“
Izuku blinked, watching as Katsuki panted his feelings out. The other boy suddenly felt really uncomfortable.
There was obviously something more to this.
“Kacchan-“
“Don’t call me that!” Katsuki reached out, but Izuku flinched, making the other boy freeze. He glared at him, then turned away with a grunt. “Just stay the hell out of my way. Consider this your warning, Deku.”
“Right,” Izuku mumbled, turning away.
So things haven’t changed since middle school. Katsuki was still that angry kid. He still hated Izuku. And Izuku didn’t know why. He tried so hard to be his friend, to be there when he clearly needed someone. But Katsuki was always lashing out one way or another. It was completely hopeless.
Maybe he should stop trying. But that’s not what his mother would’ve wanted.
He went back to walking, a heavy feeling settling over his heart. In the distance, he could hear Katsuki begrudgingly following him. Of course — they’re going the same direction. That didn’t make Izuku feel any better, though.
He glanced around the road as he walked, keeping his hands in his pockets. He wouldn’t use the map this time — he needed to learn this route one way or another.
He made a few turns, examining familiar land markings. Street signs, weird trees. The gas station.
Maybe Izuku should find a part time job. Then when he made money, he could just start walking to school instead. And get something from the gas station beforehand. Like an energy drink or a snack.
Something to get him through the morning.
As he walked on, he stopped at the very same alleyway from yesterday. He absently turned, glancing down. He could see the warehouse from here.
Maybe…
“What the hell are you doing?” Katsuki called out from behind. Izuku nearly jumped out of his skin.
“Don’t- don’t do that!”
“You’re the one looking down a sketchy alley!” Katsuki pointedly waved at the graffiti littering the walls. “Why? Did you get us lost?”
“No!? I’m going the same way I did- wait, us?”
Katsuki growled, his face growing beet red. “Damn it, I never walked before! Why the hell did I decide to follow you!”
Izuku helplessly sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Katsuki genuinely makes him feel like he’s aged a few years, sometimes.
He stepped to the side, gesturing to the alleyway with a nod of his head. “It’s a short cut. I took it yesterday because I was running late.”
“Okay, well…” Katsuki wordlessly moved his hand, gesturing for Izuku to continue on.
Izuku turned, rolling his eyes subtly. But he couldn’t help smirking a little. Katsuki really had no idea where he was going, did he?
Izuku made his way down the alley, with Katsuki in tow. The two of them made it to the end, where Izuku found himself cautiously glancing around, just like last time. Then he crossed the street toward the warehouse.
Before he could even get a foot in the road, Katsuki suddenly grabbed his arm.
Izuku gasped as he was pulled to the side, behind a couple of bushes. They were wedged between greenery and another old building behind them. He was about to give Katsuki a piece of his mind, but the blonde held a finger to his lips and pointed.
Izuku glanced over, then saw it.
A few cars. All of them he recognised as part of the police. And then one he’d recognise anywhere — Tsukauchi’s SUV. They were parked along the end of the driveway.
Izuku’s heart lurched to his throat. What were they doing here? Did they know somehow?
No, no way. Why would they know about some random pair of goggles? Izuku needed to stop overthinking so much.
Next to him, he heard the rustling sound of Katsuki moving. When he turned, his eyes widened, as Katsuki slowly crawled along the bushes.
“Kacchan!” Izuku hissed, his voice a whisper. But Katsuki just shook his head.
Izuku’s heart pounded. He didn’t have a choice.
He followed behind Katsuki, the two of them navigating behind the greenery. When they got to the end, they were far enough from the warehouse where they wouldn’t be seen.
“The hell are they doing over there?” Katsuki wondered aloud, as he stepped out in the open. Izuku followed him, plucking out a random leaf from his hair.
“I… I don’t know.”
“Wanna find out?”
“Huh!?” Izuku turned to Katsuki, and was alarmed to see the other boy grinning mischievously.
“Cmon! We’re already late. And I don’t wanna go by myself.”
Izuku swallowed. This whole scene was familiar. Where Katsuki was always making Izuku do stupid things with him. He really didn’t want to get in trouble with Tsukachui. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Well too bad. Because you need to show me the way to school anyway.”
“Kacchan, please-“
But Katsuki was already creeping across the street. Izuku paled, worrying his bottom lip again.
But damn it, Katsuki would make his life at school hell if he didn’t follow him. So, even though it was going against every instinct in his body, Izuku followed after him.
The two of them crept around the edge of the building. The cars were all parked on the other side, with nobody in sight, so Katsuki motioned Izuku to follow him to the doors.
Izuku remained behind Katsuki. His heart was racing so fast he could feel it in his ears. This was such a nightmare. Anything could go wrong!
Once they got close enough, Izuku could hear voices.
“…And this was where it all led.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m going off the reports. This building was definitely listed.”
Unfamiliar voices. Probably the police. Katsuki glanced at Izuku, but Izuku just shrugged. He supposed he was lucky he hadn’t run into them yesterday.
“Are you sure?” A new voice chimed in — one that made Izuku’s blood run cold. It was Tsukauchi.
“Positive. They say they saw him enter the building with someone else. Disappeared up top and never came down. But we searched this place top to bottom, it was empty. No sign of any struggle. So maybe..”
“Maybe he was taken?” Izuku heard Tsukauchi ask. He sounded so unsure about… something.
“That’s not a terrible theory,” someone else said, and Izuku heard shifting that made both he and Katsuki jump. “We’ve already considered the possibility, though. Hey, you sure this guy is right for the job?”
“Tsukauchi-San is the perfect detective for this case,” someone defended passionately. “I can’t think of anyone else more capable. He will figure out the disappearance of Touya Todoroki. Isn’t that right?”